Overlust

NARS Overlust Cheek Palette ($59.00 for 0.42 oz.) features a new highlighter formula (first row), which is supposed to be a "gel-to-powder" formula that "applies like a second-skin" and "allows for easy layering or blending under or over" the blushes (which were described as having "sheer buildable color").

The new highlighter formula seemed to lean too much to the powder side, rather than gel, and was thin, almost like a dried-out cream highlighter, which made it difficult to pick up with brushes or sponges. I only had success using fingertips, but the product had a tendency to get pressed in and further firmed up from that (due to greater pressure when using fingertips over a brush). There was nothing in the official press release or on the retailer's description that indicated that the highlighters were to be used with fingertips (Sephora recommends a brush).

I didn't find that the highlighter formula worked as well as other gel-powders I've tried, as attempting to build up the color and get it to transfer off my fingertip and onto my skin meant more pressure and a higher likelihood of it moving around my base products. They looked best and were easiest to use over bare skin. The blushes were more pigmented than described--more semi-opaque to opaque--but applied evenly, blended out well, and lasted for eight hours.

This palette launches December 30th exclusively at Sephora.

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